SPRING NOTES: Gillespie wishes every day was a holiday, Timmy and Buster pull it together and say a prayer for Pablo

Carl Steward, in for Alex Pavlovic one last day before heading back to the Bay Area after 10 days in the desert …

This will be extremely quick as I try to get out of here, and I’m already in let’s-fly mode thanks to Cole Gillespie. Bruce Bochy expects the writing contingent to be in the dugout as soon the game ends, but we were all still hanging in the press box when Colorado’s Danny Rosenbaum hung a 3-2 changeup and Gillespie hammered it out of the yard for a walk-off 9-7 win.

All of a sudden, it was a sportswriter scramble through the crowd to the dugout. I think I knocked over three old ladies and a guy with a cane on the way (kidding!), but it was a tester.

It was a great way to end a game on St. Patrick’s Day, where everybody wore unsightly green Giants caps. The A’s aren’t going to like that. As it turns out, it played into a neat little angle regarding Gillespie. He said his last walk-off came on July 4, 2008, while playing in Huntsville, Alabama.

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He was reminded that the Giants open the season on April 1 against the Dodgers.

“If I get an opportunity to do something on April Fool’s Day, then I’m doing something right,” he said.

He might. Bruce Bochy said he hasn’t ruled Gillespie out in the mix for the fifth outfield spot, where his primary competition is Francisco Peguero. While Peguero might seem to have the edge in terms of all-around value, the Giants might not want him sitting as much as the fifth outfielder might.

Gillespie’s chances are enhanced by the fact that he some right-handed pop, and the Giants won’t have Brett Pill (knee surgery) at the outset of the season. But he’ll probably have to make a couple more impressions like Sunday’s.

“I think it’s big,” Gillespie said of his homer. “Every opportunity, every at-bat counts. Every time I get in there, I want to make something happen and hopefully make those coaches think a little more.”

Bochy’s thought about St. Patrick’s Day?

“I think I’m going to go have a green beer,” he said after the game.

A man after my own heart.

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Tim Lincecum looked slightly better than last time out. That’s the best assessment I can make, and he definitely finished stronger, retiring nine of the last 10.

The nagging thing, the thing we saw so many times last year, continued to plague him, though. In the first inning, he got two quick outs, then went 0-2 on Carlos Gonzalez, and proceeded to walk him. Next thing you know, double-double and two runs.

It’s spring training, so it’s not a huge deal. But it’s the type of thing Lincecum really needs to focus on once the season starts — finishing off those advantageous counts — and he agreed. It’s something he didn’t do nearly well enough last year.

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The upside is that he and Buster Posey seemed to finally get in a good rhythm in this game, and he reported — once again — that there are no issues between himself and the Giants catcher. Lincecum said he told Posey that he wouldn’t shake off any of the pitches he called, and by the end of their four innings together, you could have sworn they were the Everly Brothers. OK, so maybe that’s an exaggeration.

We’ll see where it goes from here.
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Just don’t know about Pablo. Say a prayer for Mr. Sandoval that this elbow “discomfort” is not something serious. Bochy said Sandoval also experienced some numbness in his fingers. Neither the manager nor the third baseman seemed terribly distraught, but elbows are scary deals.

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Wish I could hang longer, but it’s time to go pack, gas up the jet and rocket out of here, leaving Alex to bring spring training home the rest of the way (although I’m sure I’ll be back for some Bay Bridge Series).

Making last call with some Tony Joe White — “Soul Francisco” — an interesting little ditty from around the time of the Summer of Love in which Tony Joe brings the swamp rhythms — complete with conga — to the city by the bay. It’s kind of a lost, unheralded song about San Francisco. The best part of the song is the finish, though, in which T.J. delivers one of his trademark grunts as the exclamation point to the song.

Carl Steward

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Would just a elbow ligament strain cause the numbness, or would it have to be a tear? Hoping for the best for Pablo!

Wineguy

Hope Pablo just has some spring training inflammation. It should be an interesting couple of weeks for the last few roster spots.

ClutchUp

Maybe in one of the hamate operations they accidently tweaked an elbow nerve.

Stranger things have happened with #48.

He’s ambidextrous but that won’t help him at 3base.

Arias to the rescue if Panda needs surgery on his bionic limbs.

Fire up the excercise bicycle and dugout tredmill if he’s gonna miss XXXXX amount of games.

ClutchUp

Good thing Josh Hamilton is not at ATT tonight.

Janis Joplin aroma among all the upper deck eight dollar seats.

stickman

Carl, thanx for the triphammer updates. Good work. Good stewardship of the blog.

Blizzard roaring on in tonight in the Northwoods, with the winds at around 35mph and the snow starting to come down. We’re expecting anything from five inches to a foot in NW Minnesota. Enjoy that California climate and leave the weather to us.

Wishing the best to Pablo. May the recovery be quick and easy. We need ya, big guy.

The “Legends” 2012 retrospective on Comcast tonight was great. Some new interview footage, and they reviewed the whole season, not just the playoffs.

I really enjoyed today’s game. Good to see Timmy fight through a bad first inning and find his rhythm. If he can go 6-7 innings in the regular season and give up two runs, I would absolutely take that. If he hadn’t been on a pitch count, I think he could have done that today.

Belt and Pence both looked great at the plate today. Belt had three hits (the opposite-field double was especially impressive), but I think I was happiest with the walk (and stolen base) on a 3-2 pitch. Great AB, fought off a ton of pitches. Fun moment for Gillespie with the walk-off HR. Interesting to me that Bochy’s had Pence hitting third and Belt fifth in Pablo’s absence–and they’ve both been doing well.

The middle infield spot continues to look grim. Bond made two weak throws, Valdez made an error, and Tanaka killed a rally (but he helped with one later, too). If, God forbid, Pablo has to miss any serious time and Arias becomes an everyday player, well…yikes. APB to Ryan Theriot’s agent? Or something.

Please, please be OK, Pablo. You have an NL MVP trophy to win this year!

stealYOURface

Ballparks smelling like southern comfort,smack and the clap…yikes.

Pablo missing time has become a given. Hopefully its not for long and only once.
Makes ya wonder if arias has a chubby voodoo doll.

ClutchUp

Pagan catching last line drive-type fly ball tonight in LCF @ ATT sure looked similar to some other 27th outs before.

brabon99

angel knows the park

pr beating japan has gotta go down as one of the great upsets in the history of the game

this is great for pr, where baseball has been dropping a bit in popularity

if bambam can push the ndr over the boys from the dr, that would be amazing

Gray Whale

Great WBC game tonight!

Re Timmy and Buster: I’m not the most voracious devour-er of all Giants News, i dont own a tv, but for years Ive read every blog post here, many comments, and sometimes venture out into more mainstream news sources when I’m really clamoring. My question: has there ever been a *real* report of *real* bad blood between 55 and 28? Even a nugget?

No offense meant to any beat reporters. I just feel like I must have missed the day when something substantial / substantiated was reported on the “rift”. Did someone slip a comment that’s been a kernel to hold on to? I’ve googled many times and haven’t come up with anything.

I guess I was jut always satisfied with the explanation that buster needs a day off, and Timmy throws hella balls in the dirt, so that’s a good day for him to take a break.

ClutchUp

Grey Whale its been media and fan driven since the get go.

Buster was NOT going to not catch Cain Vogey or Bum on the way back from his dibilitating injury injury and that left 55 and 75.

Plus what you said regarding scud balls alacarte.

Zito rehabbed in Frez with Hector two yrs ago and they had a zen like relationship.

You pretty much nailed it. Media-Circus driven + on the ledge fans of only the person like Sonia’s adoration for all things associated with Mr. Short hair..

Mrs Cleo says no worries.

The Oracle

I don’t think there’s any way that Arias hits as well this season as he did last year. I don’t he would fill in nearly as well playing every day if Sandoval had a significant injury.

pacman68

I’m watching the game right now. I thought Timmy pitched well and looked a lot sharper then last year. Very happy with his outing today.

ClutchUp

Can here jon miller now…grounder to sandoval @ 3rd, he picks it clean, swithches to the other ‘hand’ ala jim abbott and gunz the ball to first left handed.

Say goodnite Gracie…

DunUDirty

Ol’ hot Carl, well done. Lets pour one out, for the brotha leavin’ is “huuuuung!” Good work Carl.

DunUDirty

Watching the game today, Timmy just had a low step ie high release on his change, which lead to a Cargo smash. He’ll be fine. Anytime you have Timmy as your number 5, you have a championship team. On another note Buster gunning down molino on that dog at home back door at first just goes to show that an MVP is ready to play on both sides of the lines on any given st pattys day. Oh not to mention how he back spun that ball to right center (for anyone who’s never been to Scottsdale, that’s a freaking shot that clanks off the old navy display for sure) like kruk said; you don’t hit that ball like that unless you’re a special player. Can anyone say Irish car bombs? Sorry brothas. So stoked for the season! And congrats to pagan! Best two years of his life upcoming!

wine baroness

As per Henry Schluman @ chronicle:

Ryan Theriot considering being an agent??

Foothills Ryan

Positional power rankings from Fangraphs. How apropos – Sandoval’s inability to stay on the field knocks the Giants down a few pegs.

There is little concern about Sandoval producing in the batter’s box. Through age 25, only 15 third basemen since 1947 have a better wRC+ than Panda’s 126 mark. That’s a mark that places Sandoval ahead of where Scott Rolen, George Brett, Ron Santo and Paul Molitor were through that point in their careers, to name just a few. But will he stay on the field? He has failed to make it to 500 plate appearances in each of the past two seasons, and the Giants don’t really have any depth at the position — Arias and Abreu are borderline major leaguers. If Sandoval can stay on the field all year, San Francisco probably winds up in the top five here, but there’s no guarantee that he will — even our projection of his playing time could be seen as optimistic given the past two seasons.

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Let’s see what’s up with this injury. Otherwise, the link is a good place to start trolling for trade candidates to man third base in the future. Mike Moustakas anyone ??

BKGiant

Oracle,
What reason do you have to think Arias won’t contribute as well this year as he did last year? You think more playing time or regular playing time would cause his production to drop?

This is an interesting concept, and one that I’d like to hear more about. Seems like it could work both ways.
- Irregular playing time = more rest, better at bats OR more rusty, worse at bats.
- Regular playing time = more time for in game adjustments and practice, better at bats OR more tired, fatigued, stressed, worse at bats.

Can anyone shed light on this?

Lefty

Gray Whale: Both Henry Schulman and Andrew Baggarly have written and/or spoken on the radio about tensions, or at least disconnects, between Posey and Lincecum over the past year. It does not appear to be a personality conflict–they genuinely like each other off the field. It seems to be more that Posey is a no-nonsense, tough-love kind of catcher who studies the hitters and scouting reports and has a plan and an idea of how to go after them before a game starts. Tim, on the other hand, primarily goes by how he feels and what he thinks is working well that day or even that moment. So maybe Buster calls a pitch that fits “the plan,” but Timmy shakes him off for the pitch that’s in “the moment.”

There is room to meet in the middle. Buster is obviously an excellent catcher who has proven he can handle a pitching staff that wins World Series (and throws a perfect game). Timmy has won two Cy Young awards by knowing himself, and his opinion should be respected, too. Both are intelligent and have good communication skills.

And here’s the most important fact: They have an excellent track record of working beautifully together in high-profile situations. I think of Game 1 of the NLDS in 2010, when Tim struck out 14 on the way to a two-hit shutout and how he brilliantly out-pitched Cliff Lee in the final game of the World Series. I think of the three-hit shutout Tim pitched against the A’s in 2011 his last start before Buster was injured. And Tim’s outstanding relief work in the 2012 postseason–all but one of those outings was with Buster behind the plate. I also think of a brilliant curveball in July to David Wright with the bases loaded–again, it was Buster who caught that start.

What happened in 2012 was probably a combination of three things: 1) Buster was returning from a horrible injury and a long layoff, and Bochy needed to pace him anyway 2) Tim had huge command issues all year long and was very hard on whoever caught him and 3) Tim was struggling from the beginning and his confidence took a huge hit; considering 1) and 2), Bochy thought it prudent to mix things up and give Tim a different catcher.

Lefty

BKGiant: That’s an interesting point about Arias. We know he can play three positions adeptly, so that already makes him hugely valuable. When he filled in for Pablo after the hamate surgery, his bat was nothing special. But when he became more of a platoon player later, he was raking, especially against lefties. He and Crawford were practically a platoon in Aug./Sept., and that seemed to work out pretty well for everyone, including the team and Crawford (who had an excellent last two months).

Your question–was his mediocre hitting earlier due to fatigue or did he start to click later in the season because he finally had enough big-league reps to be successful–is a really good one. I guess if there’s a significant injury to Pablo, Crawford, or Scutaro, we’ll find out more.

I looked up Arias’s stats, and last year he had 344 plate appearances. This was almost equal to all his previous major league seasons (2008-11) put together. In other words, he never played so much at the big league level before (fatigue) or had so many opportunities (reps). It’s interesting to also remember that he was such a highly-touted Yankees prospect that Texas took him in the Texeira trade–over Robinson Cano. In other words, this is no Ehire Adrianza, who’s already a no-hit/good-glove SS in AA. This was a legitimate prospect from one of the best organizations at scouting, drafting, and developing players.

Lefty

One more thought (catching up from last night’s comments): I always chuckle a bit at the comment that Pablo “can’t stay on the field.” It ignores the fact that he’s a switch-hitter who had the same relatively rare injury in both hands–and now he can’t ever have the injury again. I guess it’s fair to say that he can’t seem to avoid breaking hamate bones, but now he doesn’t have any.

Not including hamate bones, I can only remember Pablo being on the DL one other time in 4 1/3 major league seasons–the strained hamstring last year from turning the back end of a DP. And he was out what, 2 1/2 weeks with that? In contrast, I remember him playing through injuries in 2011 (foot, shoulder), even when it meant he could only bat left-handed.

Don’t know about that. An injury is an injury and a broken bone is a broken bone. He’s got a track record for injuries that could expand with an MRI. Fingers crossed this is tendonitis type inflammation. His body type is liability for future injuries also. If you’re buying insurance on Pablo, the actuary would line you up with a heavy duty premium.

Woj

What was the Lincecum velocity yesterday and his last inning.
His biggest problem last year was that sorry fastball hovering at 90 to begin! the game and regressing to 88? by the third or fourth inning.
Timmy is not known for his control, he needs a 94 mph heater in favorable or unfavorable counts to get the hitter out. 90 digressing to 88 or 87 = highest ERA in the league.

GSDubs

Nice amateur psychology

ClutchUp

55′s off season conditioning will help him with late game endurance.

stickman

Lefty@7:45: Excellent assessment of the Buster-Timmy interface. You broke it down into probable component elements into an odds-on wrap.

Anti-Lasorda

A conspiracy theorist might say that rthe club wanted to change the face of the Franchise from the “Let Timmy Smoke” crowd to “Strictly Business Buster” for oodles of reasons…..

Notice the quirky and shaggy crowd is getting phased out, and being replaced by clean cut types purty quickly. Tim decided to play ball this year and chopped the locks. No more Timmy whigs at AT&T.

Romo’s the last man standing for the most part. I know Pence will get scraggly throughout the year, but notice he cleans up when he has to. Also notice both men wanted longer term deals and were left wanting. You could argue the baseball side of those decisions; but, a concerned observer might draw a parallel.

A conspiracy type thinker would suggest the 30 suits running the club like it better going more corporate. It offends less people. After all, if they want to be seen as Yankees West, let us not remember the Yanks strict road dress codes and no facial policy.

A conspiracy type thinker would just point out that in 2010 the faces of the franchise were the long-haired pot smokin’ Timmy and the crazily bearded Wilson dragging around Burrell in a gimp outfit. Now in 2013, the focus is clean cut hard working Southern Boys in Posey and Cain… and that conspiracy thinker would suggest that was done deliberate and on purpose by those 30 men in thqat small room that Larry Baer (who is one of the 30) answer too….

One might even suggest, that those 30 men, privately would have wanted Timmy to struggle to facilitate that change and to remove the pressure about letting him walk after his arrest. That is if you believed in such things as conspiracies….

Foothills Ryan

Rumor has it the Giants are looking for left field help. I think I heard it when Marty was talking to Chris Haft. Or was it Baggs? Or Jon Miller was doing the game? Whatever, it was heard. Not impressed with Blanco’s start and looking at alternatives.

Yankees released Matt Diaz. So there’s one. If this is true, this likely means Pegs will start in AAA no matter what. If they don’t give him the platoon, and instead give it to the 35 yr. old Torres, then they might as well let Peguero get his ABs in Fresno.

FutureGiant

Not surprised to hear something like. May seem like a stretch to tie this to his poor conditioning… but is it really? This has be all too common with Panda for years now. I don’t doubt that he could put up numbers similar to his 09′ campaign based purely on ability, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll ever get his weight under control for that to happen.

Maybe this will help Giants with long-term negotiations, but is this who we want manning third going forward. If he can’t take care of himself at age 26, what does that mean when he is 33?

Foothills Ryan

Nope A-L. Just baseball. Come out on top after 162, then some. That’s it.

Nationals will be very good. Reds will be very good. The Cardinals, Braves and Dodgers will be good. Watch out for the Braves should rookie Teheran take off like he appears on the verge of. That’s what the Giants have to contend with. Other good to very good teams, plus all the rosters that want to upset the party.

Gray Whale

Thanks Clutch!

And thanks Lefty! Awesome breakdown. I too always think of the 14k game when wondering what the real issue is.

Hopefully this little pic of Posey’s swipe touch of Petit will help Yusmeiro as he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Fresno.

Mr. Hills of the Foot:

You must have had a dream because there is no START to Blanco’s Spring Training, there is just Spring Training and then it comes to an inglorious (bastards) – end with the Bridge to Bridge series where the Giants usually get hammered and again even that means nothing.

We ALL love Franky Pegs but you have the biggest ‘thang’ for him. He truly has no track record against other teams starting rotations and bull pen. Guys like Torres, and a sprinkling of Matt Diaz and Gillespie have a tiny little dugout book and mental book on how they might get pitched when they face ABCDE + the other teams pen.

Blanco’s aquiring THAT book and Blanco and Nady filled in during the Melkdown episode. Blanco’s gonna be the LF who gets the oppo to lose the starting job. Andres if healthy will provide push. I HOPE ‘Peggy’ makes it out of ST as well as the next person but he also may not meet the template of MiLB + ML at bats that they seem bent on.

Matt Diaz=Cashman (wonder how his misshap rehab is going) + Sabean and his Yankee guys now working for SF = Could happen.

Anti-Lasorda: Nice theory. I’m STILL a grassy knoll believer.

Anti-Lasorda

Blanco was always a 4th in my mind. Torres is the same IMO, a little more pop, and 5 years older….

I like both guys media personalities, I like their tools off the bench. I don’t know if I like them platooning for 162.

No objections to findind a stick for LF.

I’m of a different opinion though. I don’t think the Sabester is wrong looking for more options, you always should, but I think this is the ‘due diligence’ for a bigger risk….

Giving the kid the job come June and letting him sink or swim with it. Roll hiim out there and see what you have…

Of course, I think that only happens if neither Blanco nor Torres seize the job in the first two months. I also think that regardless of the platoon splits, Torres is starting opening day, and he probably looks to be getting more of the shares of ABs at this point. Blanco will get plenty too, it’s inevitbale for Torres to DL a fair amount and give Blanco the job for weeks at a time.

What I haven’t made up in my mind, and I am sure is going to bother Sabean is the next question:

1) Do I start with Pegs up. As the 5th guy, expecting him to platoon with Blanco a lot (given a Torres injury) but also going long periods without ABs when Andres is healthy. His primary role with a Healthy Torres becomes to spell Pence, PH and pinch run.

OR

2) Do I start with him down, expecting to ping-pong him up and down with Torres injuries to get him 5 ABs a day as often as I can? Could he handle that? Or have I not learned anything from Brandon Belt circa 2011…..

It’s a tough question. I think I send Pegeuro down for “seasoning” and keep Gillespie on the bench. Pegs keeps tearing it up in Fresno, I bring him up in June/July, but when I bring him up, I think I do so with an eye of giving him the job. It also gives me some reassurance that he’s ready if he can keep up this spring clip down with the Grizz for a couple of months.

But that’s gambling on a lot of different outcomes between now and June. I would be looking at other options too… there just aren’t many out there. A lot of really old guys and some real foul smelling stuff at the bottom of that dumpster. I don’t think the club has enough surplus assests to swing a trade of real value.

I might see how Grady Sizemore’s doing… I mean he’s still only 30….. You might get a couple of weeks out him. But if an American League club that used to love him can’t even get him healthy enough to DH… well that’s not promsing.

Hey you think Barry can call Greg Anderson and get ready in 3 weeks? Of wait, Larry Baer now has some ethical issues regarding steriods… well, that was an idea.

It’s Blanco & Torres til June, with a little Gillespie thrown in. Pegeuro coming around June1. He’ll get a full-fledge shot to win the job before we opening up the trade discussions July 15.

Odd little thought of the day…. could it be that a struggling but not horrid Tim Lincecum and cash goes back for a LF in July? Hmmm…

I don’t think so, but its interesting to think about.

~YMMV

Anti-Lasorda

One other interesting name I found on the free agent wire that I would offer a work out for a minor league deal to is Stockton’s own Dallas Braden….

I haven’t heard teams calling….. I wonder why. That has Vogey II the gnarly dude written on it.

You guys want MLB starter insurance on the cheap. There you have it.

Sonia H

Anti-Lasorda says:
Odd little thought of the day…. could it be that a struggling but not horrid Tim Lincecum and cash goes back for a LF in July? Hmmm…

Me loving that theory. Please elaborate.

I just found out that Roy Halladay is at 87 mph. What! It pains me to say, because I really admire that guy.

Timmy can end up in the Phillies…

channelclemente

IF Lincecum throws that flat, 88 MPH 4 seam during the season, the opposition will make mincemeat of him.

ClutchUp

Anti: You have Torres starting opening day? Nope it will be Blanco.

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I wonder if KNBR’s Lee Hammer sleeps well at night. Personally I can’t get the radio signal worth bleep on my ear-plug-tran-radio but the amount of hosts that The Game has put together is impressive.

More impressive is their station manager’s ability to tinker with compatibility of ‘his’ hosts. Having Steinmetz and Half Moon Bay’s own Ric Bucher under contract must mean Hammers’ hair is surely to never grow back in. Gleason, Kreidler and Dibley can be clownish but Murph-Mac are wearing big hats also. O’Connell and Steinmetz far outshine the Raddy and subordinates although Kate is a star.

John Lund and Greg Papa far outshine Giggles Fitz and too tall LSU Rod. Buc and Townsend=big get for Towny to have a real star in Bucher but I like Tolbert and Ratto. Re-tred Guy Haberman is Tim Montemayor 2.0 and I’m a big Ray Woodson fan thinking it should have been “Go Ray” all along when Hammer dumbed down and settled for Red Bull Byrnes.

I heard Krueger @ 10am today sending a promo tease to break and he is truly in love with his own boorish shtick. It must be confirmed that he probably had former dirt on Agnew, Salvatore, Lemon and Hammer in order for him to weasel his way back to the employer that fired him due to insensitivity regarding “brain dead…. Caribbean hitters hacking at slop…and a Manager with a cream of wheat mind….” And Chinese gymnasts who looked ugly…” I think back then even Omar felt insulted.

Wonder how short the leash is for Krueger’s WBC feelings….95.7 The Game also has larger connections to Chronicle Live and Comcast Bay Area. Ever see Radnich on that show, or Fitz and Brooks or Tolbert. One sees Ratto, Tompkins, Kozimor, Papa, Benz, Steiny and Bucher etc.

KNBR’s signal is MUCH stronger but the knowledge-base of the talking heads on The Game has cast a big shadow on what Lee Hammer has put together.

KNBR’s saving grace is they are the flagship for SF G’s and SF 49ers. When will Raddy walk off into the sunset to listen to Frankie Beverly with Alicia?

Anti-Lasorda

Clutch,

Kershaw still starting for the Bums opening day right?

Last time I checked, he stood facing first base….

~YMMV

ClutchUp

Anti: I agree with all that but Sabean’s-Bochy’s Giants still believe in the Easter Bunny and the Wizard of Oz. Last years game Four WS Lineup except Theriot DHing for Cain has big shot at being the same lineup on Opening Day 2013, unless Panda needs replacing.

Bochy’s ready for an 0 for 4 from Blanco with ugly swings in order to keep his modus operandi in full view of his 25 guys. That’s his number one trait – that and bullpen management.

The G’s are gonna lose between 62 and 72 games in 2013. Being 0-1 after the Opener is better than 50/50 playing at the Latrine vs. Kershaw.

Way to stack the lefties Clutch. Somebody drill the notion ‘Platoon’ into Clutchup’s head. Hint: diamond tipped bit may be required.

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Blanco is a fourth outfielder, is a fourth outfielder, is a fourth outfield; by any other name…

Torres is a fifth outfielder. Nice to have a pinch hitter that can swing from both sides and has a little pop.

What is Peguero? Probably a fourth outfielder – but we don’t know until he furthers his development. If you follow the statisitics, if you follow the scouting reports, if you are paying attention to AB’s during spring training you can project a little bit of optimism on him. Go talk to Felipe Alou. Talk to his manager at Fresno. The bat tool is there. More control and more bat speed than Blanco and Torres. He just needs to learn discipline.

If he’s hot and Blanco/Torres are not having good AB’s, then Peguero gets a shot.

Now if the Blanco turns it around (a single and a BB is a good note for him) and Torres is healthy, then Peguero would be better served hitting every day in Fresno and working on that discipline. The Giants may need him sooner than later. And if he succeeds, then that opens the door for using Brown as trade bait.

Got it Clutch? Questions?

And one more: enough with the rote, canned answers about spring training not affecting player evaluation. There’s a difference between Buster Posey and guys on the fringe. Hunter Pence hitting the ball is meaningful. Brandon Belt hitting the ball is meaning. It doesn’t project their #’s for the season, but it suggests the hitters are happy with their timing at this juncture.

So open your mind and heart, there’s room for guys like Frankie Pegs.

channelclemente

Foothills, You look at the ABs during the spring and tell me how you can conclude any player is better than another from a statistical POV. You’re about to engage in that magical thinking thing again.

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Foothills: I didn’t stack em’ up, it is what it is on occassion ;P If you re-read I want Peggy to make the 25 out of ST just like Blanco and Hector did in 2012. Baseball IS rote and repetition if you play it over 162 plus three more rounds.

Hopefully Bruce has your cell number so that you can encourage him to do more of a R-L-Righty type item. But hitters can either hit or they can hit better than their card. They are always gonna match their 7/10 failure rate on the back side. It’s about Situational Hitting and Having Quality at bats while making outs.

Kershaw is capable of beating an all right handed lineup of former Bronx Bombers. He doesnt need wrong hitters on the same side as him in order to get outs. Besides he’s like a couple of other non-finesse leftys of years gone by (Pettitte) who – if he doesn’t “feel it” at the moment = he’ll walk them and then pick them off. Happened to Christian and Ford in the same game two years ago.

Coach along with Bochy not expect him to dallie off and do something he’s not used to doing. He’s gonna play Blanco against Kershaw and somewhere along the line he’s gonna have too many LH’s back to back to suit your fancy.

Numb Nuts

Guess who’s back
Back again
Numb Nuts is back
Tell a friend

Did you guys miss me yesterday?

Anti-Lasorda

I wonder how many smacks to the talliwhacker it took Tito Mac to have Numb Nuts?

Primetimedonna

LOL!!!!

SurfCity

Off Topic to South City Jim,

Did you catch yesterday’s Warriors game? Really surprised me and one of the best efforts in the year when many thought they were going down. Still may be, but it was great to see the when over Houston, the first after 3 losses. Bogut and Ezeli were plugging up the middle.

Numb Nuts

Correct spelling of the term is tallywhacker.

Bapah

AP, get rid of this dips hit.

giantswon

Peguero should be the left fielder. Torres the fourth out fielder with Blanco and Gillispe battling for the fifth spot. Blanco is not hitting a lick.

Numb Nuts

@Bapah,

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Lefty

Nope, Numb Nuts is too good at spelling, punctuation, and capitalization to be Tito Mac.

I did notice that a regular poster by another name addressed ClutchUp as “Mr. Clutch” the other day, just as Numb Nuts does sometimes–but I’m not throwing anyone under the bus. It may be a coincidence, but I just noticed.
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On the probable Opening Day lineup, I continue to agree with Clutch that Blanco will be in it out of respect for the World Series achievement. However, I did see that Bochy had Blanco hitting eighth and Crawford seventh the other day. I like that configuration better. Crawford is decent at driving in runs, and Blanco/Torres are better at getting on base and stealing. The eighth spot is better for that. Also, if it’s Torres or Peguero in LF, that breaks up the three lefties at the bottom.

Foothills Ryan

giantswon says:
March 18th, 2013 at 2:58 pm

——————-

This guy/gal gets it !

====

Hey Clemente,

What’s up? Excited for WBC action tonight? Y’know, baseball!

Here’s something else for you (and Clutch too) :

If spring training performance didn’t mean anything, why would players get cut or make the team based on how they did in the month of March? Quite the riddle. Inquire with Blanco and Arias about this one. Yusmeiro Petit has something to say as well. Tanaka too.

Like riddles?

What walks on four at dawn, on two at midday, and on three at dusk ?

South City Jim

That was me. Lefty’s right, my bad. Sorry Clutch if you we’re offended. Don’t know what I was thinking.

On Warriors, Surf, I saw it. I’ve come to the conclusion that the dubs can beat or lose to any team on any given occasion.

I’m at work. Any word on Panda?

South City Jim

That WBC game last night reminded me of your classic AL game…just shy of four hours. Good game but thought the thing would never end.

Foothills Ryan

I may have used “Mr. Clutch” before. I also have “numb nuts” in my vernacular. This is all circumstantial of course.

As for trotting out the WS lineup for show? Whatevs. Bochy can do what he wants. Bring back Theriot on a one game contract. Dropping game 1 to Kershaw certainly won’t sink the ship.

Losing Pablo could put a hole in the hull. But these guys are fighters. And I wish Blanco all the luck in the world. It would be a great story if he could be come a major league hitter and not just a major league outfielder.

Lefty

NN: I’m a linguist. If it’s language, I notice it. Can’t help myself.

Lefty

SC Jim: Yep, it was you, but I didn’t really think you were trolling ClutchUp. Of course, who the heck knows about any of us, right?!

Anti-Lasorda

Footy turning into the sphinx in Oedipus… As if we weren’t all forced to read Sophocles…

Anti-Lasorda

Does anyone know that fine Scottish gentleman who fought for the South during the Civil War, Colonel Angus?

channelclemente

Lefty,

ergo my comment about magical thinking.

Anti-Lasorda

OKay I’m off my meds, I’m out until the ol’ lady brings them to me to moderate the moods swings…..

Lefty

cc: Yes, indeed.

Lefty

Schulman just tweeted news about Petit (looks like he’ll accept the assignment to Fresno). I’m assuming there must be no word on the Panda yet, or he/Alex/Baggs would be tweeting it.

$3M = 2.4% of his $126M contract – some kinda “friend” – but maybe this will incentivize BZ to make 200 innings this year…

dgg

This from Hank Schulman 18 minutes ago:

“Pablo Sandoval has been diagnosed with an irritated nerve in his right arm. I’m not sure yet if tests today specifically ruled out structural damage, but the prognosis suggests that is so.

I’m told that over the next few days Sandoval will rest and get treatment, which is not the worst thing for the third baseman. He has played so much recently, in Venezeula and the World Baseball Classic, that he does not really need a lot of at-bats or time at third base ahead of the regular season, which begins in two weeks.”

Foothills Ryan

Netherlands with a boost from Numero Uno prospect Profar. Kenley Jansen at the back of the bullpen should help also.

“Magical thinking” or not, Netherlands can do this !!

Enjoy the game!

Foothills Ryan

Everybody send magical healing thoughts to Sandoval. Send some to CC as well. We all could use some healing.

you might pick up a copy of the DSM III or IV….or buy a copy of Jekyll and Hyde.

ClutchUp

Hearing
Hering
Hereing
To Two Too
There Their They’re
Your You’re
Linoleum
Affeldt v. Affledt
Use to Used to

My thumbs could care less.
Baseball, Warrior 49er blog included

The scent of a women
Pacino and the sultry blonde bombshell Ellen Burnston (sic)

‘Yowza’

Wally Pipp

Today was a cloudless sky up here. Lou Gehrig and the boys pulling for Sir Bam Bam.

Great posts today by the starting lineup.

And then there’s the gimped one. Poor soul. Runnitt turned into NotRunnitt who turned into an anatomicaly bruised teste.

Medication should help his need for capitalizing the first four letters of Chase Headley’s last name.

Toodles.

Wally Pipp

Footy you used that riddle last season.

The Sphinx she is a goner. Oeidipus nailed the answer and ‘she’ is no more.

Spring training means different things to different orgs at different times.

2012 after what happened in 11 was much different than 2013 after 12.

Blanco gets an oppo to lose the job during reg season. Picking up a stud LF bat on paper would make fans happy but would guarantee NOTHING for sure.

brabon99

sir bambam has earned a ton of respect for the job he did

att remains the great equlizer….heard it gave the japanese fits

pr had the edge in that game thanks to carlos and angel being able to tell the others how to play the park

final should be very interesting

SurfCity

Baggs:

‘Bumgarner praised catcher Guillermo Quiroz’s skills behind the plate, calling him “smart” and saying, “All we’ve got to do is throw to each other and get on the same page. I like throwing to him.”

It’s starting to move from likely to fait accompli that Quiroz will make the team if Hector Sanchez (shoulder) must begin the year on the disabled list.’

SurfCity

Off Topic to South City Jim,

2 of 2 for the Warriors on the road. Given the wild swings we’ve seen this season, the excitement certainly is tempered, but it’s nice to see nonetheless. Typically after last night’s big win, tonight’s game against a lesser opponent often results in a letdown in effort, but they managed the win.

Would love to see a respectable effort against San Antonio tomorrow night. They haven’t won there since the Clinton presidency.

Well for sure we know Pablo didn’t hurt his elbow pushing himself away from the table!

Lefty

Surf: I know you were talking to Jim, but I’ll jump in on this Warriors conversation. The exciting thing about the last two road wins is Bogut’s line. Both teams kept under 80 points. The Dubs haven’t done that back-to-back since 2004. They won easily last night despite a mediocre game from Klay Thompson, too. If they can actually gel with Bogut, well…it could be interesting. Not too late at all to make the playoffs and make some noise once there.
————————–

Too bad about the Fightin’ Bam Bams. Go Angel! It pains me a tad to root for Beltran’s team, but there’s Yadi Molina, great catcher and brother of our two-time Willie Mac winner–and there’s Hanley on the other side, making it an easy call. Sorry, Casilla. Go Angel and Team PR!

dgg

Well, it looks like the official diagnosis for Pablo is “ulnar neuritis in his right arm.” This can be caused by repetition of same, or similar, motions at the wrist and elbow, such as throwing and hitting.

After the World Series he had, Pablo was given the go-ahead to play winter ball. Then he went to the WBC and came back, and Bochy had planned to give him the day off, but Pablo wanted to play. It’s clear that Pablo loves to play baseball year-round, but I wonder if it’s smart for him to use the same muscles and repeat the same motions year-round.

Lefty

dgg: I’m sure the Giants would have preferred for Pablo to stay in Arizona and work on his conditioning this winter instead of playing winter ball, judging Miss Universe, appearing at 49ers and Warriors games, etc.

But I think I remember that Pablo insisted on a provision in the contract he signed last year that he could play winter ball in Venezuela if he chose to do so. You have a good point about overworking himself, though. Hope some rest and treatment straightens him out and that this is not a recurring problem.

Keep’n It Real

When I was watching the Puerto Rico/Japan game, the announcers were talking about how the Japanese beat the Giants (during Japan’s WBC break) “and the Giants had almost all the regulars in the game”.

I was thinking “Are you guys idiots?”. Like Brabon99 mentioned about AT&T being a great equalizer, I’m sure the Giants…even in Spring Training “it’s just a tuneup” mode (which they were when the “scrimmage” was held)…would have beat the Japanese National Team at AT&T.

I also noticed that many of the Japanese players like leave their feet when swinging at the pitch (they seem to be slapping at the ball). I was thinking in a 7 game series (MLB Champs vs. NPB Champs), I’m sure there are ways to pitch inside to offset their unique swing style comfort zone.

Anyway…my thoughts were if the MLB announcers were going to mentioned that exhibition game between Japan and the Giants, there should have been a few disclaimers in there about how it was just another tune-up for the Giants in Spring Training, NOT “they got beat with almost all their regulars in there”. Like I said, Idiots.

Matthew

KIR, I get the feeling that Matt Vasgergian is extremely nervous about dead air, and talks just to talk without really considering the fine details of what he is saying… I heard the same line about the Japan/Gaints game and thought the same thing as you did…but he perhaps felt the need to pump up the talent analysis since the WBC is getting torched everywhere else in the media.. I am enjoying the games for the games sake, but also taking them at face value. Love the national team and fan passion…

JStreet

I hope the guy with the annoying air horn stays home for tonight’s game. Sheesh.

Those things ought to be relegated for use only in McCovey Cove. Underwater..

Speaking of enormous, have any of you ever eaten breakfast at a Peppermill? I had breakfast with a friend there when I was in Vegas last week. My friend had the aforementioned enormous omelet. I was being good and ordered oatmeal, and I swear, they brought me a TROUGH of oatmeal. I couldn’t eat half of it!

I also lost $3 playing video poker while waiting for my friend to meet me.

Keep’n It Real

@Lefty

Peppermill used to have non-casino locations. I know they had one in Cupertino and it was the same deal…trough sized meals. I could swear there was also one along the way to Tahoe, but maybe my memory is scrambled.

Lefty

“Regulars” against Team Japan?! Yes, Blanco, Scutaro, Sandoval, Posey, and Pence started–and had two ABs each. Also starting was Monell at catcher, Tanaka at SS, Peguero in LF, and Gillespie at DH. None of those last four are “regulars.” Belt, the Giants’ hottest hitter in the spring, didn’t play at all. And Angel Pagan was/is still with his WBC team.

The starting pitcher was Petit, who was subsequently cut from the 40-man roster. None of the rest of the pitchers in that game are even likely to make the team (Proctor & Runzler possible exceptions, but not likely).

dgg: As you know anything with ulnar in it can spell momentary doom for a players throwing arm side. HS and youth injuries are taxed with ulnar nerve issues because of their growth plates not forming completely during the time that HS position players and pitchers are being overused. Couple that with improper biomechanical throwing issues and most of the youth – HS – second tier players never play again after HS.

Coaches ‘fix’ kids on the side and then they revert back to their worst throwing and release of ball characteristics. High level caliber fast pitch softball girls throw much more efficient and pure than a % of boys. (In other words: Don’t throw like a boy, don’t throw like a girl, throw like a ball player)

Pablo is a very grown boy-man and the antidote and rest/therapy should bring him back to norm.

@Anti: Perhaps your ‘bad-boy’ meal will suffice as ‘med’s because your double-entendre tangent, especially aimed at one regular female poster – went into the Mercury Blog shredder. Not sure why our male gender has a predisposed want to include locker room, Alfred E. Newman mentality into what are otherwise super knowledgeable posts.

JustMy2cents 8)

stickman

Anti: First you gotta gonna get yourself a wood-burning cookstove and some suitable cured hardwood. Start off with the crumpled up newspaper (business section of NYT works fine, though their Sports Monday is utile as well). Then some kindling twigs. Then a bit of split popple to get it blazing. Finally the hardwood: 1 1/2″ oak is nice along with ash slabwood. Combo heats up good.

Next: Set the #10 Griswold w. self-basting lid on the sweet spot of the stove. Pour in a bit of cooking oil. Olive oil is fine if we’re talking a vegetarian dish. But not today.

Saute a sliced up apple and half a bell pepper. Add some water before lidding the pan. So it’s semi-steamed as well. Hastens the process. Then add a nice modest sausage from the local butcher shop. Up here in the Northwoods of Minnesota they can get by with calling it spicy. Just a mild tang, but this is mostly whitebread country so far.

Take some of your garden dried basil leaf, crush them down and sprinkle liberally. Re-cover the skillet. Go to the freezer and extract about 3 pierogi (this is the potato and cheddar-stuffed variety). Pop em atop the rest of the combo.

When the pepper slices have softened its time for the final touch: A brace of extra large (think Rhode Island Red) brown eggs from a local Amish farm. Splash with some powdered cumin.

Pour sufficient water through the coffee grounds in the cup-sized strainer atop your coffee mug. Let it sit on a quite warm (but not hot) part of the stovetop as the eggs are cooking up (no lid on skillet at this point, else the henfruit gets frizzly.)

Produce your favorite plate and breakfast fork ~ silver does not meld well with egg-gruut, so use one of stanley steel here.

Plop the works onto the plate in your other hand. Grab the cup with the other and head for the table.

You just enjoyed my breakfast for the last day of winter, previous to an expected overnight low of 13 below zero heralding the Vernal Equinox.

ClutchUp

Lefty says: March 19th, 2013 at 9:24 am 80..In case you were wondering, here’s Pablo having his breakfast:

:; That photo of Pablo with hat turned backwards while eating reminded me of the story once told by Archie Reese, Dan Bunz and other 49er players coached by Coach Walsh. They were either in the mess hall cafeteria on Nevada Street in Redwood City or at their Camp digs in Rocklin – where many of the Niner players started the fashion moment of wearing baseball caps on the sidelines or in the Food Hall.

Several lineman and others kept getting the bill of their caps in the way as they bent over their own humongous plates of food. Walsh…walking by told them all – “turn them around”.

(Yep, I know the MTV – hip-hop G crowd wants in on the origin too)

stealYOURface

It will be an issue until they find what is making the nerve angry. Hopefully it hasn’t escaped the space left for it after the hamate surgery. Its a stretch,but a remote possibility.
Anybody that has had nerve issues can relate to,finding the cause isn’t always
as easy as an MRI.

I’m looking forward to this years playoffs,to see if any of the professional babblers say “this game 7 has the feel of a game in the 1st round of the wbc”. Heard more than once the 2 being compared,and that’s just silly.

While E. CB – Dodger Hater

This thread is a low point in ExtraBaggs history. We need a new article and fast. The WBC sucks as is complete crude.

Nontechnical

@ lefty from this morning:

There was a Peppermill in Corte Madera (Marin County) near where I grew up, so not a casino. As another poster said, lots of orange with fire pit. Very popular in the 70s with teens and 20s. Mediocre food, enormous portions. It is now some other restaurant with even worse food, only elderly nostalgic people go there.

Today’s comparable restaurant might be the local Cheesecake Factory, which is like a fancy Denny’s, 17 page menu w/huge portions, all terrible. It’s also noisy because of all the mismatched mosaic decor. Don’t understand why it is popular. A thought: Panda should never go there.

As someone who lost her knees to running while overweight, I wish Pablo would drop the extra pounds so he can stay healthy. He is one of the most amazing athletes I have ever seen. Who else can hit a homer off his shoes or his eyebrows, then lay out to catch that seeing-eye grounder at third?

Anti-Lasorda

Breakie at Stick’s place…

I’m in.

Yummy!

———————————————
Clutch,

the occasional “blue” remark is part of the gig when you’re under 50 and still have operational parts…. maybe when mine fail to perform to working standard I’ll find the adolescent sense of humor or the need for double entendre to juvenile… until then I’ll have to impinge on your more refined sensibilities…..

—————————————————

As to Mrs. Lefty,

the comment in question was not directed as a particular insult regarding her preferred behavioral choices or practices away from this board whatever they maybe. It was an attempt at humor, perhaps ill concieved. I do apologize if she happened to take particular offense, since Clutch chose to view the comment as being more of directed accusation rather than a simply play on words… No malice or suggestion of your lifestyle choice was intended.

——————————————————————————

I am more than sure however, given her chosen profession, she has been subject to the innuendo before, and I am sure given her putting up with the likes of all of us, she has more than enough fortittude to persevere.

With apologies

South City Jim

Surf & Lefty,

Much to my surprise Bogut looks healthy and now that’s playing he’s rounding into shape. He’s also being integrated nicely into their “system”. I’ll be interested to see how they look against the Spurs tomorrow night. I will say this, the Bogut trade never bothered me because Curry and Monta in the same backcourt was an issue, but if Bogut can stay healthy an put up 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks a game, then it was a very good trade.

Regarding the Giants, I messed around and looked at the Giants schedule for 2013 and how the rotation would fall assuming everyone makes their starts. Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but Zito, who was very good last year against Arizona and Atlanta, would essentially miss both this year. I think he would have one start against Arizona and that’s it. On the other hand, he’d make a lot of starts against the Rox and the Pads. Funny how things work out. One thing I found very appealing is that the first series against the Nationals in May at AT&T would feature Vogey, Cain and Bum.

channelclemente

Looks like Billingsly will take Greinke’s turn April 2, so Schulman is saying.

stealYOURface

Hmmm,low point. Naw.
That would be during last years post season when rats were jumping off the crashing bandwagon ( see nlds game 2 etc). Some have even changed their names. They know who they are. Mostly the ones that decided they couldn’t live without sf giant baseball sometime around late October 2010…..

OMT

WBC? Please go away… and RIP forever.

Horns at ATT should absolutely be banished. Tried watching that crud last night for not even an inning and that sound immediately had my finger on the change channel button. Never to return again. Ever.

I’ve been to Puerto Rico, and Clemente might have played a WBC charity game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, but not this WBC/ESPN attempt to modify baseball’s brand and ultimately force it into World Wide tournament play to make a few more shekels.